Charge Set to Be Dropped in Jose Reyes Case

By The Associated Press

March 30, 2016

HONOLULU — Maui prosecutors were moving on Wednesday to dismiss a domestic abuse charge against the suspended Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes because his wife had not cooperated with the investigation.

Kerry Glen, the deputy prosecuting attorney for Maui County, said she expected to file documents to drop the case. Reyes’s wife, Katherine Ramirez, had refused to talk to prosecutors or return to Maui, she said.

“The complaining witness, Mr. Reyes’s wife, is what we call an uncooperative witness,” Glen said. “At this point, I have no other avenue for prosecution.”

Reyes, a former Met, was scheduled to go to trial next Monday. He pleaded not guilty to abusing a family or household member.

David Sereno, Reyes’s lawyer in Maui, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Reyes was arrested Oct. 31 at the Wailea Four Seasons Resort. According to a recording of a 911 call released by the police, a hotel security guard reported that a woman had injuries to her leg and scratches on her neck.

Reyes was released after posting $1,000 bail. He was also ordered to stay away from Ramirez for three days.

Ramirez rebuffed requests for cooperation through a Maui lawyer she had hired, Glen said.

Glen will ask for the case to be dropped without prejudice, meaning she will have about two years from the date of the reported offense to refile charges if Ramirez eventually cooperates.

Reyes was placed on paid leave under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy pending completion of the criminal proceedings.

M.L.B. and the players’ union agreed to the policy in August after a series of high-profile domestic violence cases involving N.F.L. players.

M.L.B. declined to comment on prosecutors’ intent to drop the charge against Reyes but said in a statement that he “remains on administrative leave until the commissioner completes his investigation and imposes any discipline.”

Administrative leave is a paid suspension, although Reyes will start accruing his $22 million salary on Sunday, the day the regular season opens.

If the disciplinary action becomes an unpaid suspension, Reyes has the right to offset the time served against that penalty but must repay any salary he received during the paid suspension.

In the first disciplinary action under the new policy, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman agreed to a 30-day suspension after an episode involving his girlfriend in October.

The Rockies spokesman Warren Miller said the team had no immediate comment. The team is expected to wait until M.L.B. decides on any discipline before addressing the issue.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B14 of the New York edition with the headline: Charge Set to Be Dropped in Reyes Case. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe